Scripture to Read: Luke 17:22–24
Jesus shifted His focus back to His disciples and began to lay out for them what it would be like when He came back for the second time. We read this in Luke 17:22–24, “And He said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. 24 For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.’” Jesus forewarned the disciples that a day would come when they wished Jesus were back among them. Surely this would have been hard for them to imagine, for Jesus was right there with them talking with them, but Jesus sought to prepare them for what was to come. Jesus knew He would leave them, and that after He left, His Holy Spirit would come to dwell in them, but all of that was still to come. Jesus also warned them that false teachers would come claiming that the Messiah had returned. Jesus used the illustration of lightning to make His point. Jesus said that when lightning flashes in one part of the sky, it illuminates the entire sky. Jesus said that when He returns the second time, it will be as obvious as the lightning flashing. As Christians, may our lives brightly declare that we belong to Him.
Challenge & Application
Why is it important for us to remember that Jesus is coming back a second time?
How brightly is your life shining for Christ each day, and if it’s not, then why not?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!